Italian Wines - What You Should Know About Vino dall'Italia

Italian wine is no longer defined by 1980s bad Chianti. On the contrary, quality has improved enormously in the past few decades and Italy is now at the forefront of the international wine scene. Since the Italian wine revolution of the 1960s, the country has been making some of the highest quality wine in the world. From north to south, winegrowers work with love and passion to produce something outstanding. The result: Intense and varied aromas and fantastic flavours. Below, find out everything you need to know about the properties and characteristics of Italian wine.

Italian wines and their quality levels

The highest category of Italian wine is DOCG. These wines have a controlled and guaranteed designation of origin and are bottled on site. The bottles can easily be recognised by the banderole on the neck with the abbreviation DOCG. There are a total of 74 DOCG wines, with the Piedmont wine region having the highest concentration (Barolo, Barbaresco etc). Below this level are 333 DOC wines with controlled designation of origin and 118 IGT wines, commonly referred to as local wines. Connoisseurs know that very good wine can be found in this category, including bottles that are sometimes awarded top marks by Robert Parker or Falstaff. Another category is Chianti Classico, which also enjoys DOCG status. The black rooster, Gallo Nero, makes Chianti Classico, which is considered one of the best Italian wines, easy to spot.

Grape varieties from which Italian wines are produced

It is forbidden to add sugar to Italian wines. The natural taste of the grapes is paramount, often in a single-varietal wine such as Gewürztraminer from South Tyrol or Syrah from Sicily. Other well-known grape varietals include Primitivo, Merlot, Pinot Grigio and Trebbiano. In the north of Veneto, there is also Amarone, Rondinella and Corvina. This list makes it clear how multifaceted the range of grape varietals in Italy is. In the north-east, in South Tyrol, white wines such as Müller-Thurgau, Frühroter Veltliner or Riesling grow. In the nearby Veneto, there are autochthonous grape varietals such as Friulano, while Piedmont, the eastern part, is suitable for a very specific varietal due to its special soil conditions: Nebbiolo. A varietal such as Pinot Bianco (Pinot Blanc), on the other hand, is less demanding in terms of soil and climate conditions. It is cultivated in many parts of Italy and is a good blending partner for many Italian wines. These combinations result in elegant cuvées with aromas that perfectly complement each other.

Characterful red wines

Sangiovese is one of Italy's most important grapes. It's used to make Tuscan wines such as Chianti Classico, Morellino di Scansano or Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. Sangiovese is also the basis for full-bodied Brunellos. Equally well known is Malvasia, which denotes a whole family of vines. It's grown in many Italian regions and used in many blends. The liqueur Malvasia delle Lipari is a Sicilian specialty served with dessert. Malvasia also goes into sparkling wine. Lambrusco is typical of the Italian way of life. This sparkling wine is made from the red grape of the same name. It grows mostly in the Emilia-Romagna region but is also found in Lombardy.

Italian Wines | Quality at all levels

The Italian wine revolution brought about a major change: Good table wines became excellent. For red wines, Italy is famous for intense, fruity aromas reminiscent of leather, liquorice or vanilla. Yet the country also offers high-quality sparkling wines, particularly Proseccos characterised by lightness and freshness. The Veneto and Friuli regions are known for first-class DOC Prosecco. Proseccos in the DOCG category come from Conegliano and Asolo. Sparklingly fresh, they pamper the palates of wine lovers. White wines from the north are characterised by elegance, while wines from Umbria with high tannins reflect the distinct character of the region.

Anything fun is allowed

Italian wines offer a wide variety of aromas and flavours, which are determined by the different growing areas and grape varietals. Taste Italian wines and let your palate guide you. Drink what tastes good! A light, fresh white wine or Prosecco, for example, are perfect as an aperitif. Whether you choose white or red wine with meat dishes is up to you. Strong, Italian whites are sometimes just as good as fruity red wines. A sweet Vin Santo or Passito, on the other hand, is a wonderful way to end a meal. But first, welcome your guests with a wonderfully sparkling Prosecco!